NIXON SIGNS ON TO JOIN MACEDONIAN CLUB, FENI INDISTRIJA

Aug 18, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – Hopefully Macedonia has some good culinary schools because the Master Chef is going to be arriving shortly.

Recently graduated Ed Nixon of the VCU men's basketball team inked a contract to join the Macedonian club, Feni Indistrija. The club, based in Kavadarci, has won the Macedonian First League Champion in three of the past four seasons.

"I'm truly grateful for the chance to play overseas," Nixon said. "This is the game I love and to be able to play it for a living is truly a blessing. I'll be sure to show my VCU colors while I'm over there though."

Nixon, who became popular for his cookin' dances during the Final Four run, started 39 of the 40 contests during his senior season and was known as one of the best perimeter defenders in the CAA.

The St. Petersburg, Fla. Native averaged 25 minutes a game, while shooting 42% from the field and averaging 7.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per outing.

"Ed was probably one of the few guys on our team, and I would say really across the country there's a small percentage of guys, who really take more pride in their defense than they do the offense," Head Coach Shaka Smart said. "You want to have guys like that."

Nixon's harassing of the opposing team's perimeter player continued in the NCAA Tournament when he shut down guys like Chris Wright of Georgetown and E'Twaun Moore of Purdue.

He finished his VCU career with 140 games played, the second most in VCU history, scoring 751 points, grabbing 272 rebounds and picking up 111 steals. He also added 184 steals and 85 three-pointers to his stat sheet.

Nixon is the second Ram from the Final Four squad to sign a professional contract, joining Jamie Skeen who is currently in France with his new club. Former Rams Joey Rodriguez and Brandon Rozzell are expected to ink professional contracts in the coming weeks.